He’s a veteran of the Aussie poker scene these days but Corey Kempson proved he remains a force to be reckoned with after outlasting an incredibly strong field to win the $20k Super High Roller event at WPT Australia.
The Melbournian takes home an impressive $354,541 – one dollar more than runner-up Hamish Crawshaw after the two made a heads-up deal – but more importantly seals a $20k package to the WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas in December, comprising entry into the championship event plus $4,000 in travel expenses.
The 77-man field included a who’s who of the local and international poker scene, among them Ethan “Rampage” Yau, Brian Kim, Stephen Song, Jordan Westmorland and Angel Guillen plus Aussies Daniel Neilson, Kahle Burns, Didier Guerin, Sean Ragozzini, Joseph Sandaev, recent WSOP bracelet winner Malcolm Trayner, Matthew Wakeman, Octavian Voegele and many more.
The final table itself included the likes of Ooi, Guillen, Higor Seibel and Vincent Huang but it was Kempson going wire to wire, while Crawshaw backed up from his victory in the Survivor Bounty Event for another impressive run.
YAN CAN COOK
Finishing fourth in that Survivor Bounty Event was popular Sydneysider Phoebe Yan, best known for her dealing prowess in events around the country.
While disappointed not to go all the way in the Survivor Bounty, Yan didn’t have to wait long to taste victory as she dominated the Ladies Event for the biggest score of her career – taking home $15,120 plus a special WPT Ladies Championship package, courtesy of Star, comprising a US$1,100 entry fee into the Ladies World Championship in December and AU$4,300 in cash travel expenses.
Speaking with the Star team shortly afterwards, Yan described a very different vibe in the Ladies to what she had experienced previously but admitted to loving the experience.
“I haven’t really played much with other women so it was definitely a bit of a ride but it was really good to be accompanied form other women from all across Australia p[laying poker. It was really nice to be honest,” she said.
Asked if she planned to take advantage of her WPT Ladies Championship package, Yan added, “I’ve been to Vegas but not for poker, so we might have to make the trip which is pretty exciting to play in Vegas.”
CHEN BOWLS A FLIPPER
One of the most popular events on the WPT Australia calendar is the Shane Warne Legacy One-Dayer, which saw 224 players stump up the entry fee to take part.
Heading into the final table it was Adrian Sportelli sitting as a dominant chip leader but the former Treasury Brisbane Poker Festival Main Event champ couldn’t continue his run, ultimately falling in fifth.
Instead, it was Chen Li claiming the $36,297 top prize and the trophy after another heads-up deal with Dom Baxter. Yita Choong finished in third.
All eyes are now on the WPT Australia main event as it heads into Day 2 today.
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